Uncertainty
In the context of robotics, the fundamental property that sensor measurements contain noise and that the physical world varies in ways that cannot be fully predicted. Uncertainty is not a bug but an inherent property that must be managed through probabilistic reasoning, filtering, and redundancy.
Defined in 2 GAGE programs, which carry 3 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Foundations of Robotics and Physical AI.
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
In the context of robotics, the fundamental property that sensor measurements contain noise and that the physical world varies in ways that cannot be fully predicted. Uncertainty is not a bug but an inherent property that must be managed through probabilistic reasoning, filtering, and redundancy.
The state of not knowing, in whole or in part, what will happen, how likely it is, or what its effect would be. Distinct from ignorance, which is fixable, and from probability, which is one way of describing uncertainty once enough is known. (see Topic 6.2)
The condition in which sensor data exists but is insufficient to unambiguously determine the true world state. Arises from noise, limited resolution, and physical ambiguity in the measurement. Requires probabilistic reasoning to quantify and manage.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.